Monday, May 23, 2011

The Ferrari Enzo Supercar

by: Bradley George Lindemann

One of the world’s top sports car manufacturers is Ferrari, whose symbol of a black prancing horse on a yellow shield-shaped background is perhaps one of the most easily recognizable car logos in the world. Based in Maranello, Italy, this Italian sports car manufacturer is responsible for the existence of some of the most powerful and at the same time most elegant sports cars the world has ever seen.

Every single Ferrari ever manufactured, from the 250 GTO to the 206/246 Dino, is a feat of engineering and design. One such Ferrari is the Enzo Ferrari Supercar, which was named one of the top sports cars of the new millennium by Sports Car International magazine in 2004. Named in honor of Enzo Ferrari, who founded the company in 1929, the Enzo Ferrari supercar is indeed super in many respects.

Built in 2003, the Enzo Ferrari supercar was designed using Formula One technology. Its body is made of carbon-fiber, its brake discs are carbon-ceramic, and it has an F1-style sequential shift transmission. It has 6.0-liter, 660-horsepower V-12 engine, the first Ferrari motor to have continuously variable exhaust valve timing. The Enzo engine has four valves per cylinder and a variable-length induction system.

As befitting the “supercar” tag, the Enzo Ferrari boasts of extremely quick acceleration. The Enzo Ferrari is capable of reaching 62.5 mph in 3.30 seconds and can accelerate to 100 mph in 6.60 seconds. This particular breed of Ferrari can also complete the quarter mile from a stop in approximately 11.1 seconds at 133 mph. Its estimated top speed of 217 mph is further proof of its Formula 1 heritage. So unless you’re an active driver in the Formula 1 circuit, there’s no way you can hit the top speed on a regular road and get away with it.

So far, the Enzo has proven to be stable when cornering. Its powerful engine, however, sometimes makes the car a bit difficult to control. Fortunately, it has rack-and-pinion power steering, pushrod actuated coil-shock units, a four-wheel independent suspension stabilized by front and rear anti-roll bars, and four Bridgestone Scuderia tires, which have been designed and tuned specifically for the Enzo Ferrari supercar.

So far, Ferrari has only produced 400 of these supercars, and only a select few have managed to acquire one. As a matter of fact, just being able to afford its US$643,330 price tag is not enough to get your hands on one. Propsective owners still have to send applications to Ferrari for the privilege of purchasing one of these supercars.

A number of famous people are or have been proud owners of an Enzo Ferarri supercar, including Nicolas Cage, Eric Clapton, Tommy Hilfiger, Rod Stewart, and of course, Michael Schumacher, the man responsible for bringing virtually countless honor for the company as the most famous Formula 1 driver for Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari’s racing division.